Corrosion protection & steel preservation
Complete coating systems to ISO 12944, from C2 indoor to C5 coastal and industrial. Blasting, coating and inspection in one hand, on-site across Belgium.
Rust never stops by itself. Every steel structure standing unprotected outdoors, in a port, next to a chemical plant or simply in the Belgian climate, gives up steel every year. Corrosion protection is the discipline that halts that process: the right coating system, on a correctly prepared substrate, at the specified film thicknesses.
Russo NV has been preserving steel since 1994: structures, tank farms, pipe racks, warehouses and installations, in new-build and in maintenance. We determine the corrosivity category of the environment, advise the system and deliver the complete scope with our own equipment: blasting, application and inspection, documented through to the handover dossier.
What our corrosion protection covers
Complete coating systems
Primer, intermediate coats and topcoat as one tested system, matched to the corrosivity category (C2 to C5) and the required durability to ISO 12944.
New-build preservation
New steel structures and installations right from the first coat: blasting to the specified cleanliness and system build-up to specification.
Maintenance painting & renovation
Existing structures with corrosion: assessment of the old coating, local repair or full renovation, phased so the site keeps running.
Steel structures & installations
Pipe racks, tank farms (exterior), warehouses, platforms, piping and equipment, including at height and on operational sites.
Advice & category assessment
Establishing the corrosivity category and required durability, translated into a system choice that neither over- nor under-protects.
Inspection & dossier
Dry film thickness measurements, climate records and adhesion tests where required, recorded in a handover dossier per project.
How we work
A coating system is as strong as its weakest step. That is why every step stays in one hand with us.
- 01
Survey & category
Assess environment, steel condition and existing coatings; establish corrosivity category and durability.
- 02
System selection
Select the tested system that fits the category and budget, with data sheet and film thicknesses on paper.
- 03
Preparation
Blasting or mechanical preparation to the specified cleanliness grade, measured before release.
- 04
Application
Coat by coat within the climate window, with wet film checks during the work.
- 05
Inspection & dossier
DFT measurements per zone, repairs where needed and a dossier that proves what is on the steel.
Why Russo NV
Certified
VCA and ISO 9001, systems and film thicknesses to ISO 12944 and the coating manufacturer specification.
Since 1994
Over 30 years of preserving steel in the port of Antwerp and industry: we know C5 practice from the inside.
Own equipment
Own blast pots, compressors and spray equipment: preparation and application without subcontractors in between.
Measurable quality
Cleanliness, climate and film thicknesses are measured and recorded, from the first blast to the handover dossier.
Frequently asked questions
What does corrosion protection cost per m²?+
The price depends on the corrosivity category, the system, the condition of the substrate and accessibility. A C3 system in a warehouse is a different calculation than a C5 system at height on an operational site. Because every project differs, we quote from an inspection or your specification, so the price matches what actually has to happen.
How long does a coating system last?+
ISO 12944 works with durability ranges up to more than 25 years for the heaviest systems. In practice three things determine the achievable life: the quality of the preparation, the system choice against the real environment and the maintenance. A correctly applied system in the right category meets its design expectation; a missed step in preparation costs years.
Which system does my environment need?+
That follows from the corrosivity category: from C2 for dry interiors to C5 for coastal and industrial areas such as the port of Antwerp. Per category and required durability, ISO 12944 prescribes tested system build-ups. We determine the category on site and advise the system that protects without overspending.
Can you coat over existing rust or old paint?+
Not just like that. Rust is removed to the cleanliness grade the system demands, and an existing paint layer is first assessed for adhesion and compatibility with the new system. Local repair with an overcoat is often possible; with a worn or incompatible old layer, full blasting is the only durable route. We make that call before the work, not after.
What is the difference between preservation and painting?+
Painting provides colour; preservation protects structurally. In preservation work the corrosivity category and the standard govern the system, the preparation and the film thicknesses, and every step is measured and recorded. The result looks like paintwork, but underneath sits a documented system built to last decades.
Do you also provide advice or inspections only?+
Yes. We carry out surveys and category assessments, evaluate existing coating systems and measure film thicknesses on existing work. We also do this as a second opinion on work by others, or as a baseline before a maintenance programme.
Related services
Steel to protect?
Send us your specification or schedule a survey. You will receive a clear quote with category, system and approach, without over- or under-protection.
Request a quote